Basic tablets - any good for digital magazines?

EM2 · 4 Jan 2014

I have a large collection of model railway magazines, but all the main titles now offer a digital edition, and for the sake of my bookcases I'm considering changing to these.
I have a laptop but it's a bit big to be lugging around to read a magazine on the train or bus.
I have an e-reader, but it's a basic one and only black-and-white.
I have a smartphone, but don't fancy trying to read a magazine on that small screen.
So, I thought a cheap basic tablet might be suitable for the job. That's all it'll need to do, everything else can be done on one of the other devices.
Would they be up to the job, or would I need a more advanced device which will have a lot of functions that I'm unlikely to use?

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jon0844 · 4 Jan 2014

If you get a tablet with a decent resolution, of 1400x900 pixels (e.g. Tesco Hudl - £119) or above (say a Nexus 7 with 1920x1200 for £199) or an iPad with Retina display, you'll be able to read digital magazines just fine.

Clearly the iPad is going to be the most expensive way, but I'd advise against going for some super cheap tablet, as I suspect that once you have it you'll begin to use the many other functions it offers - and may well use the tablet for things you currently use your smartphone for, just because of the bigger screen.

EM2 · 4 Jan 2014

Thanks Jon.
I was thinking a Wi-Fi only tablet, for the actual downloading of the mags at home.
I have unlimited data on the phone, which I really only use for Twitter and Facebook, I can do forumming and similar at home on the laptop, or on a PC when not much is happening at work.

jon0844 · 4 Jan 2014

If you've got unlimited data on your phone, you can tether it to connect your tablet when away from Wi-Fi anyway.

Tapatalk is quite nice on a tablet.

sonic2009 · 4 Jan 2014

jonmorris0844:1668789 said:
If you've got unlimited data on your phone, you can tether it to connect your tablet when away from Wi-Fi anyway.

Tapatalk is quite nice on a tablet.

Always check your price plan

some providers don't allow tethering as part of unlimited internet usage.

Alan1310 · 4 Jan 2014

I can recommend the hudl from tesco I got my daughter one for Christmas we got it out to put apps on it before Christmas my missus loved it and got her own own one it was that good. Me being a apple fan have a iPad wich I love I can honestly say though I didn't get on with e magazines it just wasn't the same. I use the iPad or my iphone on the go to keep up to date with this forum and rmweb

jon0844 · 4 Jan 2014

sonic2009 said:
Always check your price plan some providers don't allow tethering as part of unlimited internet usage.

True. If you're on Three with the One Plan you'll be okay, or you can get a tethering add-on.

However, if you do tether to another Android device (phone or tablet) you'll probably be okay. Some networks will monitor the data being sent/received to detect use on a PC, Mac etc - but if you're using another Android device you'll almost certainly find it won't know the difference.

At worst, it will be detected and you'll be taken to a web page to say you can't tether. You won't be charged or cut off (at least not for the first few 'offences').
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The Hudl is an amazingly good tablet for the money. Just as the Motorola G is perhaps the best bang-for-the-buck smartphone on offer today. £99 from Tesco I believe (and unlockable for £2-3 online) and has a performance on a par with the flagship phones of 2012/early 2013.

tony_mac · 4 Jan 2014

jonmorris0844 said:
If you get a tablet with a decent resolution, of 1400x900 pixels (e.g. Tesco Hudl - £119) or above (say a Nexus 7 with 1920x1200 for £199) or an iPad with Retina display, you'll be able to read digital magazines just fine.

If you don't need a more powerful processor, the Nook HD is available from Argos or Blackwell's from £79 which has a 1400x900 display.

Although they aren't very common any more, beware of tablets with an 800x480 display - Argos and Carphone Warehouse do sell them. I've got a tablet with a 1200x600 display, and I think that's generally fine for reading with.

jon0844 · 4 Jan 2014

Another vote for the Nook tablets. I assumed they'd long sold out so didn't mention it. Either model is a good choice.

Not as quick as the Hudl though, and more chance of updates on the Hudl too.

richw · 4 Jan 2014

My mrs has an Archos tablet and it is utter s**t.
I've an Ipad Air which is excellent, although a lot money I'd say worth every penny.

fowler9 · 4 Jan 2014

I got an i pad mini as a gift from someone and it is pretty cool. I only use it on wi fi though.

EM2 · 4 Jan 2014

A lot of useful info to work through.
Thanks all!

fowler9 · 4 Jan 2014

EM2 said:
A lot of useful info to work through.
Thanks all!

Just to expand somewhat on what I said before I have an i-pad mini and it is really nice. It was bought for me and I probably wouldn't have forked out the cash myself, plus I am a bit of a Samsung fan, but it really is very nice. Despite my advancing years I read a number of publications on it with no problem at all. The photos from various websites are absolutely stunning. If anything they seem clearer than when I use my laptop plugged in to an HD flat screen telly.

Bushy · 4 Jan 2014

If you decide to go for a basic tablet, the hudl had a good write up in PC Pro and if you have a Clubcard you can use 'boost' to reduce the cost (assuming you can convince the other half that you need the vouchers

).

Regards

Bushy

Bungle73 · 4 Jan 2014

The thing about e-magazines...well on iOS, I haven't used Android....is that it's a pretty mixed bunch. Some magazines apps offer nothing more than PDF-stye images of the print magazine, which you have to zoom in and move around in order to read.

Then you have the apps where the developers are actually using the potential of a magazine in tablet forum. The best of these really are rather good, and feature interactive graphics, animations, videos, sound clips and other things not possible in print. They really are great. I've subscribed to a few. None of them are railway related though.

You can get newspaper apps too.

chris89 · 4 Jan 2014

I suggest a Nexus 7 2012 or 2013 model. I have the 2012 model and love it as perfect size for digital magazines and use on trains.

My one is a WI FI only model but 3G is available for both 2012 and 13. The latter might be LTE (4G) compatible

jon0844 · 5 Jan 2014

Yes, the 2013 Nexus 7 is 3G and 4G (supporting speeds of 100Mbps download/50Mpbs upload I believe).

My 2012 Nexus 7 (16GB Wi-Fi only) is now running pretty slow for me now I've almost filled it up, so I've only this weekend ordered the 32GB/LTE Nexus 7 to replace it - so I can use it out and about without having to use Wi-Fi. If someone wants to make an offer on the 2012 model, which should run just fine after a full reset, let me know.

There are also going to be quite a few new tablets announced on Monday 6th Jan at CES (expect most in the evening given the time difference) but obviously most of these won't be on sale straight away - however it might trigger some price cuts in the coming weeks on current models.

EM2 · 5 Jan 2014

What would you regard as a decent offer, Jon? I'd be interested but no idea how much they're worth.

Temple Meads · 5 Jan 2014

Probably a contradiction, but can anyone recommend a half-decent tablet for £100 or under? It'd only be used for web-browsing really.

tony_mac · 5 Jan 2014

you can get a 16gb 2012 Nexus 7 for £99 from Carphone Warehouse.
As mentioned, a Nook HD 8gb for £79, 16gb for £99
A Kobo Arc 32gb for £80, 64gb for £90 (pcworld)

all, I think, should be decent enough for less than £100

EM2 · 5 Jan 2014

Would be interested in the Kobo, but refuse to even set foot in PCWorld after being previously screwed over.

JakeGrey · 5 Jan 2014

Quick aside: How much do you care about the 'tablet' part? Because there are some pretty good mini-laptops out there on eBay of comparable spec to the ones tony_mac listed for about half that; I picked up an EeePC 901 for £50 about eight months ago. 12GB hard drive plus an SD card slot, screen's comparable to a tablet if you don't mind being stuck with landscape orientation and you can pick your own operating system.

EM2 · 5 Jan 2014

I already have a netbook (HP Mini-Note) but the whole reason for the tablet is to read magazines, which I often do whilst standing on the train or tube, and a netbook is nit really suitable

JakeGrey · 5 Jan 2014

Fair enough, then.

EM2 · 8 Jan 2014

Well, I went for the Nook HD 7" on the basis that my original e-reader was a Nook, so I'd keep my already-purchased e-books, that it has the best screen resolution of any 7" tablet and it was only £79.
I've now purchased my first edition of British Railway Modelling, and I have to say I'm very impressed!

Basic tablets - any good for digital magazines?

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